Chapter 2 is here! Once again, we don't own anything Marvel (unfortunately). Elizabeth and Theresa are ours :)

Special thanks to leximander, Nausicaa of the Spirits, Lady Seiryu, and brightcat12 for adding our story to their Favorites/Story Alert lists :3 You guys make our smiles happen.


When I got to Stark Industries, I saw Mr. Stark standing in front of the building next to a running limo.

Thinking Mr. Stark was just going away on business, I just walked past him and said, "Good morning."

He then put his hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"Good, you're on time. I need you to come with me."

"Oh, ok-"

Before I could finish talking, Mr. Stark motioned for Happy to open the door for us. Before I got on, I looked at Happy questioningly, and he just shrugged at me and looked away. Not because he didn't know where we were going, but because he did in fact know, but he wasn't allowed to tell me.

"Okay, so here's the thing," Mr. Stark started after we got settled into the limo and Happy started driving. "You're going to be in charge of a building."

I slowly looked over and stared at him. "A...building?"

"Uh, have you heard of the Avengers?"

"Yes, of course," I said, not sure where this was going.

"I have a job in mind for you with this new building."

"I assumed," I said with snark.

Mr. Stark glared at me, then quickly looked ahead of him again. "I took it upon myself to be in charge of building the Avengers HQ, since I'm the only one with the money and resources."

I nodded. This made sense, but I was unsure if Mr. Stark really could handle being in charge of anything.

He continued. "So, the Headquarters will consist of a manor with a bunker underground with labs and equipment. What I need you to do is basically just be in charge of the house. Keep it stocked with everything you will need. Also, if you need anything specific, you can ask Jarvis."

"Jarvis?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Hello, Miss." I heard a voice say.

I looked around and didn't see anyone else in the car, and then it dawned on me. I quickly tapped into the system and saw that Mr. Stark had Jarvis as head of the system.

"Hello," I said, gritting my teeth. I was angry for not figuring out who Jarvis was earlier. "I'm guessing that's not the GPS." I mused as an aside to Mr. Stark.

He smirked, nodding. "All my cars come Jarvis equipped." He announced. "He's also in my homes as well, just as a personal assistant." he explained needlessly. Now that I'd bothered to access the main frame, I could see quite clearly who or what Jarvis was.

As I was mentally kicking myself, the limo pulled up to the new Stark manor. As I got out, I noticed Happy was keeping the limo running.

"This probably won't take long, knowing Mr. Stark." I thought to myself. We walked into the empty building, and Mr. Stark started explaining my job in greater detail.

"So, you're going to furnish everything; the living room, bathrooms, kitchen, and all that," he said, gesturing widely to everything. He then started giving me a tour of the house, opening doors and explaining what rooms were what.

"Leave everyone's rooms alone, because when everyone moves in here, they can place their belongings in their rooms they way they want them." Mr. Stark then reached into his pocket and handed me a plastic card. "Here, this is a credit card. Please use it wisely."

I nodded, taking the card.

We then headed back into the living room and before Mr. Stark reached the door, he said, "Okay, so, we're good here. I'll be here on occasion, but I'll probably pop in tomorrow."

"All right, I'll start immediately. I kind of already know what I want to do with this place." I said, looking around.

"Good. If you need anything, just call Jarvis," he reminded.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Stark."

I put the credit card in my purse, and when I looked back up, Mr. Stark was already back in the limo.

And with that, he left, leaving me alone in an empty house to my own devices.


Theresa made her way upstairs, overjoyed (in a tired sort of way) that the coffee maker had a timer that allowed it to brew at a certain time (1:55 PM) automatically. With her coffee mostly brewed, she focused on cooking some eggs for herself. During the process, River and Vlad would mosey upstairs to sit with her while she watched TV and ate her breakfast. She had just managed to get her eggs plated and her toast buttered when Vlad let out a startled hiss.

"What's the–"

Her question died in a yelp, as an arm bolted itself across her stomach and dragged her backwards against an immovable object. Vlad was not pleased. Of the two cats, he was the more territorial and aggressive towards strangers. Her cat launched himself forward, his teeth and claws finding their mark in the hand pinning her back. A foul tone hissed behind her in a language she didn't understand, but the hand jerked away in an attempt to dislodge the attacking cat. Theresa didn't need much encouragement. She darted forward, nearly losing her balance. In the end she came to a wobbly stop before turning to see who her would-be captor was. The man, wrapped in green linen, black leather and bronze armor, flung his hand with immense force, which sent poor Vlad sailing through the air towards Theresa. She jumped sideways and caught him in both arms, cradling him to her chest desperately.

"What in Odin's bowls!" Theresa cried indignantly. The man in her kitchen froze, staring at her with something west of shock and east of humor on his face. "Who'n the nine hells are you? And how'd you get into my house!" She demanded.

His face became wary... he stared at her curiously. "Your house? I was under the impression that a Ms. Elizabeth Gracious resided here." He said at last. His voice was so foreign. She expected it to be brash and booming, considering his demanding muscling into her home. But his accent was cultured and his voice was... different. Under other circumstances, she would've said it was soothing, but as she was currently standing in her night dress, a flimsy robe and slippers, it was anything but. Nothing was soothing right now.

"She does... Well, at the moment. Until she can work up enough money to get her own place." Theresa prattled nervously. She cradled Vlad to her carefully, petting him as soothingly as possible. It might be a good idea to put him down and let him scamper off. If this man attacked her again, at least she'd have Vlad somewhere waiting to lunge. "Poor, Vladislaus." She murmured at her cat. "It's okay sweetheart." She cooed, setting him gingerly on the tile floor. When she rose to stand again she looked over the intruder more critically. She had only seen the news stories that Elizabeth showed her yesterday, but it was very clear who was standing in her kitchen right now.

"I see. And where is Ms. Gracious now?" He asked tightly, eying her in much the same way she eyed him.

"... at work, of course." Theresa said softly. She watched as his jaw tightened minutely, perhaps an irritated twitch. "Lord Loki?" She asked carefully, and his eyes brightened considerably at this address.

"I am." He said loftily.

She considered him again. "If... If you would indulge me, please?" She requested, carefully shifting forward towards him. He didn't move, but he continued to stare at her in a way that suggested he would rip her arms from their sockets if she dared to offend him. She took another step forward, reaching up on tip toe and stretching her arm out as far as it would go, carefully poking his shoulder. His expression changed from wary to befuddled. It felt like smooth leather. She brought her finger back to her nose and sniffed it deeply. It smelled like worn leather, polish, something metallic and... mint? That was strange. "So... so you're real...?" she half said, half asked.

"What–"

"This would make so much more sense if it were all in my head." she said absently to the empty air in front of her as opposed to him. She stared into space (or at the dishwasher, not that she saw it) reminding herself that even if she could see, feel and smell Loki here that didn't necessarily mean it wasn't all in her head. After all, if her mind could conjure him here then it would be able to convince her that he was here through her other senses that it controlled. "Okay.. let's say for the sake of argument that you are actually here... why have you come?"

Loki's expression was baffled. He stared at her in shock. "I was seeking out Ms. Gracious."

Theresa pulled her robe more tightly around her, trying to cross her arms over her chest afterward as if that would offer more protection against that vivid green gaze. "I suppose that does sound plausible. It just seems so … unlikely."

"This is her residence." Loki reminded.

"Well yes, but she's begun assisting Tony Stark, the forever five-year-old genius." Theresa muttered with a scoff. She cleared her throat. "What do I call you, anyway?" She asked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well, just 'Loki' is entirely too casual, but 'Your Highness' or 'Your Eminence' sounds too... human." She shook her head. "Your Lordship would be close, I suppose, but it still doesn't sound right." She sighed.

"You are peculiar." Loki announced.

"Yes." She replied in a tone that suggested this wasn't news.

He cocked his head to the side, studying her in a broader light. His eyes left her face and traveled along her body, which only made her feel more self conscious. When his eyes returned to hers, he asked, "How do most of your kind deal with that?"

"Those who must endure with apathy or curious affection. Most don't."

"I beg your pardon? 'Most don't' what?"

"Deal with it." The two of them stared at one another until Theresa turned her gaze downward. "I... I apologize, but I was fixing myself breakfast." She swallowed, steeling herself before looking up again. His eyes were still on her in that curious manor. The way that a child looks at a moth trapped in a bell jar. "Would you like some?"

"What?" he asked, bewildered.

"Breakfast? Would you like some breakfast?" She clarified. He stared at her by means of reply. Her poor conversational skills notwithstanding, this was perhaps the worst encounter she'd ever had in her life. She was stuck somewhere between awed and terrified, and she was trying to find a way to find some sort of sturdy ground. "I, uh. I'm quite good at cooking breakfast sandwiches. I could thaw some sausage patties and make one for you, if you'd like." She continued.

"No thank you. I'm not hungry."

She felt a solid cold just between her shoulder blades and smiled as the truth behind that lie whispered its way into her mind. "You're lying."

His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing dangerously. "What did you say?" He demanded his tone deepening viciously.

She held up her hands quickly in a manner of surrender. "I meant no disrespect. But... But you were lying. You are quite hungry." She smiled sheepishly. "You just don't trust me to cook for you."

His expression was still wary, but some semblance of understanding was creeping in. Theresa didn't like that. He took a single step, stalking closer to her, and she took a careful hop backwards.

"Indeed." He murmured, glaring at her in an evaluative manner.

"I would be happy to cook for you." Theresa murmured. "I... I don't get the chance to cook for others very often." She had been so happy that Elizabeth was staying with her if only because she was able to cook for someone other than herself. A reclusive author's life was something she had chosen, but sometimes she felt her own neurosis were entirely too restrictive.

"Perhaps another time... I have much to do." He said. He nodded at her, still seeming confused be her behavior. "Farewell."

"Farewell." Theresa whispered softly, watching in rapt enthrallment as he disappeared in a puff of green fire and black smoke. Luckily, the magic didn't harm her or her home... that was something. She stood for a moment, just breathing and trying to process what had happened. Loki. Loki the Trickster. The God of Mischief, Lies, Fire, and Malice. He had been in her kitchen. Fleshing out her own worlds of fantasy had been one thing, but being confronted with legends she'd studied all her life... that was something different altogether. If Loki existed, then so did Puck and Hermes and Nezha and Nanabozho and Daucina and...and...and... oh, it was too much to even consider. What if every story she'd been told, every folk tale or song sung by ancients, had even a grain of truth in it?

Theresa jumped with a tiny squeak when River pranced across her feet. The cat mewed up at her in what appeared to be concern... but it could just be that she wanted attention.

"I... I need to." She looked over her breakfast, somewhat cooler now that it was forgotten on the table. "I should call Elizabeth." she told herself. Breakfast could wait.


I sat at my desk and took a breath. My best friend had just come into contact with the Norse god of mischief, Loki. The only thing I couldn't figure out was why he hadn't hurt her. Not that I wanted him to, but it just seemed odd for him to visit her and not do anything. What were his plans?

I sighed, and when I put my head down, I started tapping into the security cameras just to distract myself. The Avengers had arrived, but only to scope the place out and see the looks of things in and around the manor. I hadn't met them yet, as I had too many things to do in my office.

Clint and Natasha were outside on the back patio, talking. Nothing interesting was going on, so I moved to the living room. Steve was lying on the couch and no one else was in the living room; even if there had been, my eyes would be only on Steve, anyway. For a clean cut man, he was almost as attractive as Mr. Stark. After I was through ogling Steve, I skipped over to the kitchen to see Thor rummaging for food, but to no avail, as I have not ordered any food yet, other than pizza. Thor noticed this, and decided to take as pieces as possible.

Before I could see what else was going on in the house, I heard a knock at my office door.

I groaned and lifted my head up. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

The knocking continued.

"'Tis some visitor, tapping at my chamber door. Only this, and nothing more," I said, getting up.

"Nevermore," I heard someone say dryly.

I opened the door to see Mr. Stark leaning against the doorway. "Truly, sir, your forgiveness I implore." I said, almost giggling.

Mr. Stark's face twisted and he said, "Can I come in?" Before I started to quote The Raven again, he said, "A simple yes or no will do."

"Yes," I said, stepping aside.

Mr. Stark turned around and shut the door. "Let me just get straight to the point," he said. He hadn't turned around to face me. I tensed up. He was starting to make me nervous. "Loki has access to your house. Luckily, though, he hasn't found you there yet. But precautions should be taken into effect. I just got through talking to Fury about it."

Mr. Stark finally turned around. "In order for Loki to not find you or get to you, you need to permanently move into this house."

"What?" I practically shouted. "Permanently?"

"If you move here, you'll be safe, especially around the Avengers. You'll still be working and getting paid, you just won't be going home afterward. There's no way Loki will be able to get to you."

I walked back to my desk and collapsed into my chair. "And if I refuse?" I asked, not looking at Mr. Stark.

"I don't think that's an option right now." he said.

I sighed. A few minutes of silence went by, me staring blankly at my desk, and Mr. Stark standing uncomfortably by the door.

Mr. Stark finally spoke up. "I'll have someone get your things."

I looked up and stared at him. What he said wasn't really a statement, but more like he was asking for my permission.

"I need to call Theresa." I said.

"All right."

Mr. Stark opened the door but stopped and turned back around. "Everything'll be fine." he reassured.

That I wasn't so sure of. After Mr. Stark left, I hesitantly picked up my office phone. Before I started to dial Theresa's number, I saw through the security cameras of everyone relaxing and having fun. Something told me my good mood wouldn't last.

"Theresa?" I said, after she answered the phone in a shaky voice. "We need to talk."


Theresa watched nervously as multiple agents filtered through the different levels of her house. Some were checking for Loki (like he was hidden in a closet somewhere), and some were packing Elizabeth's things into boxes and carrying those boxes outside. Theresa had taken the time and had the foresight to pack all of Elizabeth's underthings and unmentionables into a large suitcase. River was docilely seated in her lap, and Theresa was clutching Vlad to her chest. The initial rush of having someone so powerful and dangerous in her home was over, leaving her with the most mind-numbing crash. She was still waiting for Elizabeth to get back home, because there were things you informed authorities about, and then there were things you gabbed with you best friend about. Part of her understood that Elizabeth was 'moving'... but another part of her was still expecting to see her. It was so confusing.

Speaking of authorities, two agents were directing all of this chaos. One she'd only seen the barest hint of. He seemed more interesting in observing her from a distance and overseeing the grunt work the other agents were doing. The other agent was a dangerous looking redhead in a skin tight cat suit. She had been continuously questioning Theresa, not that it did much good.

At the moment, the only thing that Theresa could think was, 'I am so glad I had the chance to put pants on'.

"Are you certain he didn't say anything–"

"He said nothing to me of significance." Theresa said firmly, tired of all this. They weren't going to find him or anything of his in any part of her house. She didn't know anything about him, other than he appeared and disappeared as though it were magic, and he hadn't shared anything about his diabolical plans to her. "He was looking for Elizabeth."

The woman's expression became somewhat grim. "Did he say why?"

Theresa sighed. "Yes. And then we braided each others' hair and had a pillow fight." She heard a snicker from down the hall and assumed it was one of the other agents. "I told you everything that he said. There was no more. I was very happy to see him leave." she admitted.

Theresa did not enjoy being around people very much at all. It came with being a hermit. Still, there was very little that upset her more than surprise visits. She didn't enjoy surprises at all. It had been a surprise when her parents had died, it had been a surprise when her brother had sued her, and it had been a surprise when distant relatives came out of the wood work to brown nose for money. None of those experiences had been enjoyable in the least.

"I don't believe you fully understand how bad this is." The woman was saying.

"There are a dozen agents riffling through my house. I think I have some inkling." Theresa grumbled.

"The man you're telling us about is Loki."

"I know. I said so already." Theresa said. "It's why you're even here." She sighed. "Is he really.. I mean, is he really Loki or is he some mutant with a code name?"

"He is Loki." The woman assured her in a manner that was decidedly not reassuring. "He's the brother of Thor, and he is very very dangerous."

"I could tell." Theresa said with a soft scoff. She looked up at the woman interrogating her. "So... do I get to know who you are?"

"You can call me Widow."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Theresa muttered, but this 'Widow' pretended not to hear her.

"I'm part of a special team that responds to threats like Loki."

"There are threats like Loki?" Theresa whined incredulously.

"Well, I'm sure you've heard of Victor von Doom and Magneto."

"Joy." Theresa muttered blandly.

"Normally, Loki doesn't appear unless he wants to cause some havoc."

Theresa sighed and shooed her cats off of her lap before standing. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. The god of mischief managed no mischief here. It's probably a fluke that he was even here at all."

"Loki doesn't do anything for no reason. He's cunning and –"

"I know about Loki. I've studied Norse legends." Theresa walked back into her kitchen in hopes that she could occupy herself with something. "I don't understand why he was here or why he wants to see Elizabeth."

"I'm fairly certain he wants to bring her to harm..."

"That seems unnecessary." Theresa murmured contemplatively.

"Well, Loki's brain doesn't function in the logical fashion that most peoples do." The man who was overseeing the other agents directed them outside before returning to Widow's side. "Everything's clear." He murmured. "No sign of Loki anywhere in this vicinity."

"Thanks, Hawk."

"I told you that." Theresa said with a pout. She sighed heavily. "When do I get to see Elizabeth?"

"Right now, we aren't sure. The Director is conferring with Mr. Stark about the next course of action." Widow let her eyes drift around the room again. "When she knows what's going on I'm sure she'll give you a call."

"Wonderful." Theresa groused. She looked around her kitchen. Her breakfast has long since been eaten, but she should at least offer. "Can I offer either of you something to eat?" She asked.

"No, thank– " Widow started.

"Sure." Hawk said with a smile. Theresa actually had to smile at the look Widow was giving him.

"By all means, sit down." She said motioning to the table. She gathered up a carton of potato salad she'd made a few days ago, some white American cheese and cheddar cheese, and the butter. She relocated everything beside the stove. She buttered two slices of bread, and laid one buttered side down in her skillet. She placed the white American cheese on the bread, spooning some potato salad over it, then she laid the cheddar cheese over it before placing the final bread slice on top. With a bit of heat and a well done flip, the sandwich was golden brown and perfectly done. She scooped up the sandwich and placed it on a plate.

"Here ya are." She said, handing the plate to 'Hawk', as he was called. "Careful, it's hot."

"Thank you… uh… what is it?"

"Potato salad grilled cheese." She answered smoothly. "Comfort food at its best." He seemed to agree as he begun inhaling the sandwich with gusto. Widow eyed him, somewhere between disgusted and impressed. Luckily, Widow's phone rang, and that kept her from commenting.

"Yes?" She said. "I see. No, it's your call. Very well. We're almost finished moving everything." She nodded to herself before snapping her cell phone closed. She looked at Hawk and pointed to the corner of her own mouth. "You've got a little something."

"What'd Stark say?" he asked, not seeming to mind.

"Not Stark. Fury." Widow said with a sigh before turning to face Theresa. "I think I will have one of those sandwiches, if you don't mind. I'm afraid you may have to indulge us a little longer."


Aaand that's all for this edition! We'll be here...working on more :) Tip your wait staff and DFTBA!